Sunday, 24 May 2009

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa).Male.

Out and about in the Oaksey area today where I was hoping to find Gomphus [Common Club-tail]. I was unsuccessful I'm afraid - the Swillbrook just doesn't look suitable for it so the Oaksey sighting must have come form further afield.I did see Azure Blue, Common Blue and Large Red Damselflies there though. Also what is turning out to be a massive immigration of Painted Lady butterflies manifested locally with butterflies passing by at all locations I visited at an average rate of one every 3 minutes. Even when I pulled up outside my house one flew over the car! All were heading north.I also visited a pond I recently discovered on the Woodland Trusts reserve of Warneage Wood at Wanborough on the outskirts of Swindon - only a 7 minute car drive from my house. It looks promising for Small Red-eyed Damselfly later in the season but at the moment holds hundreds of Large Red and Azure Blue Damsels and a beautiful male Broad-bodied Chaser. The pond was cleared out last winter so it'll be interesting to see how it develops this season - watch this space!

About Me

I'm passionate about natural history - insects in particular. My favourites are dragonflies and damselflies [odonata] and as a result I am Wiltshire county recorder for these beauties.
My other great passion is photography and I try to record everything I see wherever I go.